USA > New Jersey > A history of Baptists in New Jersey > Part 7
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This was the second Church which had colonized from First Bridge- ton. In 1856, the Cedarville Baptists who were from location identified with Baptists interests in Bridgeton, became an independent body. Pastor Brown was associated with other Baptist movements in South Jersey. Two movements had been made in Salem to found a Baptist school. Again the matter was under advisement and Mr. Brown was chairman of a committee of the West New Jersey Association, in 1865, to locate a school. The school was located at Bridgeton and is known as the South Jersey Institute.
Mr. Brown was followed March 1st, 1872, by Rev. E. B. Palmer. Mr. Palmer was pastor twelve years. The longest pastorate the Church has had. A work of grace was enjoyed in the winter of 1872-3 when ninety-two were baptized and twenty-five were baptized at Pearl Street Church. A sister in the Church gave to it a dwelling house that cost sixteen hundred and fifty dollars. Another paid for the lot on which the brick chapel, had been built. Two were licensed to preach in this pastorate. One, Mr. C. Keller, with his fellow German members united in a request to organize them into a mission. Their wish was complied with and they used the chapel. On account of removals, the mission failed. November 6th, the First Church paid the debt of Pearl Street Church,
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incurred by needed repairs. Altogether Pastor Palmers ' oversight was characteristic of the man, a workman that needed not to be ashamed. He resigned in May, 1884, In their letter to the Association, the Church said: "By his wise councils and superior ability, by his faithful devo- tion to this work in a pasorate of more than twelve years, the Church has been greatly strengthened both in temporalities and in spirituali- ties." An Anglo-Africo Church was formed about 1887, but did not stay long.
Rev. T. G. Cass followed Mr. Palmer and was pastor from 1885-90. For seven years from 1891 to 1898 Rev. C. C. Tilley ministered to the Church. In June, 1898, Rev. R. A. Ashworth became pastor, resigning in April, 1900. The next July, 1900, Rev. C. T. Brownell entered the pastorate.
Fourteen pastors have ministered to the Church, of whom, one died while pastor; one served twelve years, another eight years. Early in 1831, under the charge of Mr. Harrison, the Church adopted a pledge of total abstinence from all intoxicants as a condition to membership. All the pastors of Cohansie, except, it may be, Mr. Brooks, were staunch Calvinists and the Bridgeton Church was, therefore, foremost in whole- some Calvinistic truth, God a Sovereign; man fallen and lost, and under condemnation; salvation unmerited and wholly of grace, the highest inspiration to "good works" and to perseverance.
Their doctrinal training explains the foremost place New Jersey Baptists hold in education, missions and all other good causes. Not only those of New Jersey, but those of every Christian name and every- where. As Bancroft says: "Calvinism has been the faith of those" who have originated and pushed forward the enterprises of this Christian era.
The original constituents of Cohansie Church located in what was known as "back neck". Coming from Ireland, there were Welsh among them as such names as David James and David Thomas indi- dicate. They removed from the South side of the Cohansie river to the North side and were the constitutency of Cohansie Church in 1690. Thus the north side of the river was known as the Baptist side, and the south side of it as the Presbyterian side. One hundred and fifty years passed ere there was a change in the quiet of the south side by a Baptist mission at Cedarville.
Nathan Lorrance, of Cedarville, had been a Presbyterian, but, becoming a Baptist, built a meeting house. He died in 1754 and his "will" gave his property to his daughter, excepting "all that messuage called Flying Point, save one acre, where the Baptist meeting house now standeth, when the Baptist members that liveth on the South side
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of the Cohansie creek shall see fit to take it." They to pay a certain sum to two of his daughters. This daughter was Abigal Elmer, grand- mother of Lucius Elmer, a historian of Cumberland county. Mr. Lorrance's daughter married the son of a Presbyterian minister. Bap- tists did not make a claim on the meeting house and it and the lot were sold under the Elmer title in 1828. Judge Elmer in his history of the county, devotes large space to a Presbyterian preacher in that county named Osborn. But dismisses Henry Smalley, pastor of Cohansie Baptist Church for nearly fifty years, the oldest Church in the county into which Mr. Smalley had received seven hundred and fifty persons, with less than a line of print. So much for pedobaptist prejudices, and the reliabilty of Presbyterian histories out side of themselves. "Schaff & Herzog's encyclopedia" is another illustration of how much pedobap- tists think of themselves and how little of Baptists.
In 1835, Rev. Mr. Frederick, pastor of the First Baptist Church at Bridgeton, preached at Cedarville, making an appointment on alternate weeks. In 1836, he baptized numerous candidates there, they uniting with the First Bridgeton Church. The Cedarville Baptist Church was constituted on September 6th, 1836, in Butler Newcomb's woods and had thirty-one constituents. In Cedarville, was a "free" meeting house and there Mr. Frederick held his meeting in weather unfit for outdoor service. But when the converts developed Baptist proclivities, the Presbyterians closed the doors of the "free" house of worship. Then, the Baptists secured an old shoe maker's shop, about twelve by eighteen feet and held their meetings in it. A Sheriff's sale threw a lot into the market which Mr. Lorrance had intended to give for a Baptist house of worship, but which after his death was otherwise disposed of. The lot had a short time before been sold for fourteen dollars, but the Presbyterian opposition to Baptists made it cost them two hundred dollars.
Providentially, the woods' meeting in 1836 brought Mr. E. D. Fendall to Cedarville. He was induced to stay and held the meeting for three months. Still he delayed going away until February, 1837. In the temporary absence of Mr. Fendall from the field, Mr. William H. Bingham filled the gap until January, 1838. Returning, Mr. Fendall was ordained in 1839 and remained four years till December, 1842. A house of worship was erected in 1838. Mr. Henry Wescott was a resi- dent and being ordained in 1842, ministered in that year, in part and was pastor from March, 1843, to June, 1844. Mr. Ephraim Sheppard and a brother-in-law followed preaching at Millville and at Cedarville. Each of these pastors were independent of the salary the Church could pay. Pastor Sheppard remained until 1846.
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Other pastors were William P. Maul, 1847-53; John Todd, 1853-57; the last serving both Millville and Cedarville, each ten miles distant from the other. Mr. Todd walked to and fro. At Cedarville, while Mr. Todd was pastor the debt of the Church was paid, the Church edifice repaired and a parsonage bought and nearly paid for.
In those days, Baptist Churches were far apart, the Convention Board appointed missionaries with a roving commission to large and destitute districts. Mr. Todd was assigned a field stretching from Cape May to Long Branch, and west to the edge of "The Pines."
This region was nearly an "unknown land." A vast wilderness, nearly an hundred miles long and forty wide. Thousands of people were scattered through it. Mr. Todd was sent to carry them the "mes- sage of life," going on foot from cabin to cabin, and from one cluster of homes to another. I recall one of his verbal reports to the Board. How and where he slept at times. Once he asked a family if they believed in Jesus Christ, and had for an answer: "Who is he?" Another replied to the queston: "If they had a Bible?" "What is that?" Few could have endured the hardships and exposures of his long and lonely tramps, not knowing in the morning where he might be at night. Some times he trampled all day, not secing house or human facc, and then slept under the trees, contenting himself with the crust which he carried for an emergency, and with water of a spring or brook. His sturdy English body stood him in good stead. His faith in God and love for souls held him firmly to his Christ-like work. I doubt not but that he has met in Heaven, many who, but for him, would never have heard of the Saviour. Mr. Todd was a godly and true man. Caring more to do good than for personal comfort. An example of the host of the good and useful, of whom the world never hears, but who will be among the chiefest of the Saints on high.
There were other devoted men whom the Convention sent out, commissioned to range freely in wide destitute sections; men "who en- dured as seeing Him who is invisible," who lighted "the lamp of life" in many a dark place laying the foundations on which those who came on later built.
Additional pastors at Cedarville were: E. D. Farr, M. D., 1858-60; S. L. Cox, 1681-83; E. M. Barker, 1863-70 (The longest pastorate the Church had known and one of marked advance. The Church edifice was moved to the front of the lot and enlarged); G. G. Craft, 1871-72; W. A. Durfec, 1872-77 (A new Church edifice was built under Pastor Durfee.); a period of depression followed one of expansion and Pastor Swinden, 1878-79, realized what it was to stem the ebb tide.
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A change came with Pastor W. W. Bullock. Discord yielded to unity. A heavy debt was paid and revival blessings appeared. Mr. Bullock was pastor, 1880-84; Mr. T. P. Price ministered, 1884-88; Mr. A. S. Flock, 1888-95 (A useful charge for seven years.); Mr. H. S. Kidd, 1895-98; Mr. W. T. Pullen, 1898-1900.
The Church has had sixteen pastors. But one of them remained eight years. A house of worship was built in 1838, which has been en- larged and improved as it needed to be. In 1874, a large and costly house of worship was dedicated. Heavy debts were incurred and the only trouble the Church has suffered was incurred. Two members have been licensed, one in 1842, and is now an active pastor nearly or quite ninety years old and has been preaching sixty-one years.
The house of worship on Pearl street, Bridgeton, which gives its name to the Pearl Street Baptist Church, was built in 1816 by the Co- hansie Church and was the place of the ministry of Henry Smalley for twelve years and the home of the First Baptist Bridgeton Church for twenty-nine years, is still a home of a Baptist Church, having been stead- ily in use for eighty-seven years. A colony of sixty-six members were dismissed by First Baptist Church to worship in the Pearl Street house and that body called itself Pearl Street Baptist Church. Rev. W. R. McNeil became pastor in 1867 and the membership grew to two hundred.
The old house was rebuilt in 1868. The debt incurred by this repair was largely paid by the First Church. Pastor McNeil resigned in 1872 and Rev. B. S. Morse followed the same year closing his work as pastor in 1874. In 1875, Pastor A. B. McGowan settled as pastor, remaining till 1878, when Rev. J. E. Chesshire followed, who retired the next year, 1879. Rev. S. C. Dare became pastor in 1880, serving until 1884. Rev. T. R. Taylor began his charge in 1884. An Anglo- Africo Church was begun by the joint action of the two Churches in 1886 or 1887. Mr. Taylor closed his pastorate in 1887. In July, 1887, Mr. McNeil began his second pastorate, which he ended in June, 1891. The same year, Rev. C. E. Cordo settled as pastor and resigned in 1895. Three months after, Rev. E. A. Stone became pastor, but closed his ministry in 1899 and on January, 1900, Rev. F. H. Shermer entered the pastorate.
The Church has had ten pastors in thirty-four years of its life. But one remained five years and one was twice pastor. Two members have been licensed to preach. Inheriting an old Church edifice that had been unused for some years, a large sum was necessary to restore it and to add to it modern conveniences and appliances, adapting the building to the uses of Christian work. A large proportion of this amount the First Baptist Church provided.
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The Berean Church at Bridgeton was organized in August, 1893, with one hundred and twenty-five constituents. Nearly all of them were dismissed from the First Baptist Church. The next November, Rev. J. J. Pierson was called and became pastor. Immediate measures were adopted to build a house of worship, which was dedicated in June, 1895.
Under Mr. Pierson, large accessions by baptism and by letter were made. The First Baptist Church donated to the Berean Church, a parsonage, equipping the Church for a larger work. Mr. Pierson had a short pastorate, dying on January 18th, 1895, within two years of enter- ing the pastorate. Previously he had been pastor at Woodbury twelve years. His people said of him: "He served us faithfully, lovingly and tenderly." On June 11th, 1895, Rev. G. L. Hart settled as pastor. The rapid growth of the Church since its organization, in membership, has continued in the years of Pastor Hart.
Greenwich is on the west side of the Cohansie river and south of Roadstown, the site of the Cohansie Baptist Church. The removal of the early Baptist settlers to the other side of the Cohansie river, located them nearer to Greenwich, which was one of the outstations of Cohansie Church. Rev. E. D. Fendall had business relations to the place that took him there in 1836 and he made appointment to preach in the school house. A temporary residence in the town identified him with the Baptist movement in Cedarville, in 1836-8. Becoming pastor at Cohan- sie, in 1843, special revival influences reached "Bacon's Neck." (An early name, from an early settler.) The converts united with Cohansie Church at Roadstown.
In 1843, a house of worship was begun. It was dedicated the next October. Regular services were held in this house for five years, by pastors of Cohansie Church. Then, in December, 1849, the Greenwich Baptist Church was organized with forty-nine constituents. Of these, forty-eight were dismissed from Cohansie Church. A reorganization is said to have been made next January. Rev. J. R. Murphey was the first pastor, until September, 1852. He was followed by Rev. George Young for a year; when Rev. H. C. Putman settled and stayed till 1857. Rev. William Maul became pastor and remained for almost nine years. Other pastors were: A. J. Hay, three years; S. C. Dare, ten years; T. M. Eastwood, two years; J. M. Scott, four years; W. H. Burlew, one year; W. P. Hile, three years; E. I. McKeeyer, four years; B. B. Ware, two years; W. E. Renolds, 1900. Thirteen pastors have filled the office.
In 1874, under Mr. Dare, the house of worship was remodeled and furnished anew. One member has been licensed to preach. The nar- 5
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row field and the probable limitation of residents narrows the hope of a large membership. Nevertheless, the people are reliable and include elements of strength and companionship.
CHAPTER V.
HOPEWELL IN 1715, KINGWOOD IN 1742, FLEMINGTON IN 1798.
Hopewell is a colony of Middletown Church. Some of its constit- uents were from Penepack Church, Pennsylvania. Morgan Edwards explains and says of Jonathan Stout, third son of Richard Stout, of Holmdel, a constituent of Middletown Church and who emigrated from Middletown (Holmdel) in 1706, the first settler of Hopewell, that "six of his children are said to have gone to Pennsylvania for baptism, others were baptized here (Hopewell), in all seven." These seven, and the six, and their father and mother, fifteen were the constituents of Hopewel Church.
The Church was organized at Mr. Stout's house, April 23rd, 1715, and worshipped for thirty-two years in the homes of the Stouts. The first meeting house was built in 1747, on a lot, the gift of John Hart, Esq. Rev. Oliver Hart was pastor. In 1790, the pastor said: "That from first to last half of the members had been of that name (Stout) and about as many more of the blood of the Stouts, who had lost their name by marriage." The mother of Jonathan, Penelope Stout, of Middletown, lived to be one hundred and ten years old, and saw her descendants to the number of five hundred and two in eighty-eight years. These Baptists were Baptists. They went to Penepack, a long distance, to join a Baptist Church rather than violate their convictions of truth and duty. Evidently to them fellowship with error was something more than feeling. Doubt overhangs the early ministry at Hopewell, both at to who they were and as to the time of their services. Mr. Edwards only names Messrs. Simmons and Eaglesfield, licentiates as preaching in the earliest times.
Kingwood Church had been organized and had built two houses of worship before 1712. While Hopewell had not built its own, as stated by Mr. Edwards and he adds "that Rev. Joseph Eaton, of Pennsylvania, preached monthly at Hopewell for fifteen years. After him, Rev. Thomas Davis, of Great Valley, Pennsylvania, was pastor for years and Rev. Mr. Carmen of Hightstown, Rev. Mr. Miller, of Scotch Plains, and Mr. Bonham for two years. "Glorious years were they, fifty-five converts joined the Church and a meeting house was built." Thirty-three years had gone when Rev. Isaac Eaton settled as pastor,
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in April 17th, 1874, and was ordained on November 29th, 1748. His pastorate continued until July 4th, 1772, when he died in his forty- seventh year.
Of Mr. Eaton, Mr. Edwards writes: "He was the son of the afore- mentioned Joseph Eaton, of Montgomery, Pennsylvania, and united with the South Hampton Church in early life and there commenced a licentiate in Divinity, at the same time with Mr. Oliver Hart. He and Mr. I. Eaton were buried in the meeting house (at Hopewell). At the head of his grave, close to the base of the pulpit, is set up by his congre- gation a piece of fine marble with this inscription:
To the front of this are Deposited the Remains of the Rev. Isaac Eaton, A. M., who, for upwards of twenty-six years, was pastor of this church; from the care of which he was removed by death, on the 4th of July, 1772, in the 47th year of his age.
In him, with grace and eminence, did shine The man, the Christian, scholar, and divine.
His funeral sermon was preached by Rev. Samuel Jones, who speaks of him to the following effect: (Which I choose to transcribe partly for fear my affection would lead me to extravagence and partly because I cannot do the business well.) "The natural endowments of his mind the improvements of these by the accomplishments of literature; his early and genuine piety; his ability as a divine and a preacher; his ex- tensive knowledge of men and books; his catholicism would afford scope to flourish in a funeral oration, etc., but it is needless." When it is recalled who Rev. Samuel Jones was and who the Rev. Isaac Eaton was, these were not words of extravagent laudation.
"Mr. Eaton founded the first Baptist school on the continent for the education of youths for the ministry." "Rev. Messrs. Thomas Curtis, John Anderson, Joseph Powell, John Blackwell, Charles Thomp- son, John Gano, born in Hopewell, July 22nd, 1727." The writer copied these items from the old minute book of First Hopewell. John Gano called to exercise his gifts November 19, 1752, and did so on January 20th, 1753; licensed April 14th, 1753; ordained May 29th, 1754. Hezekiah Smith, the Baptist Apostle to New England, licensed October 12th, 1762. James Manning, founder of Brown University, and John Sutton, his co-worker in locating Brown University. Other men also foremost in politics, law, merchandise, cabinet councils and military affairs were graduates of Hopewell school which was founded in 1756. It was a foremost center of education and it was an extreme of folly to remove it to Rhode Island. The denomination has suffered irreparable losses by its closing.
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Mr. Eaton was one of the worlds' great men; not alone in his nat- ural endowments and culture, but as much in the appreciation of the claims of the future upon him and of his relations to that future. His forecast in founding a school of universal qualities, and also, his choice of location, the heart of the country, the center of its wealth and of its social forces, amid the men of the only Baptist Association in the coun- try and in a colony of the largest liberties, having guarantees in its sett- lers, "Friends" and Baptists, unlike other colonies. Mr. Eaton's wife was "Rebecca Stout" and she may have influenced his coming to the church where his father had ministered so long.
Morgan Edwards is quoted anew; "There have been remarkable revivals in this church. In 1747, fifty-five were baptized; in 1764, one hundred and twenty-three converts were added and in 1775-6, one hun- dred and five united with the church. A parsonage lot in 1773 and additional land for the parsonage farm increasing it to one hundred and thirty-three acres." This was in the American Revolutionary war, and indicates ample "means." Since the church has deserted the Gospel of grace, the church has lost ground. Some of its best families have gone into other denominations and instead of being a fruitful mother, en- compassed by efficient churches, lives alone, barren, a stone of stumbling and a sorrow to every evangelical church of the kingdom of God; deny- ing itself any of the activities of Godliness among the children which it has disfellowshipped. Nevertheless, Hopewell is historic ground, a Bap- tist "Mecca."
Just across the street in front of the church edifice, there stood a mounting block, consisting of a large stone six feet long, four feet wide, set on stone mason work three feet high, used especially by ladies in dis- mounting and mounting their horses as they came to or left church. The top of the stone was reached by steps.
Sunday, April 23, 1775, news of the battle of Lexington reached Hopewell while the people were worshipping in the First Baptist Church. At the close, Joab Houghton, standing on this block, inspired the men with love of liberty and desire for independence. In closing he said:
"Men of New Jersey, the Red Coats are murdering our brethren of New England. Who follows me to Boston?"
Every man answered "I!"
Mr. Houghton was chosen leader of a party of volunteers who later left for Boston, the scene of the war.
October 19, 1776, he was made a captain, and March 15, 1777, Lieu- tenant Colonel. Colonel Houghten was afterwards a member of the first Legislature of the State in 1784 and 1787, and also of the Baptist Church. Died, 1796.
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"As a memorial of him and these events, this block was erected July 4th, 1896, by the people of Hopewell."
The block was dressed in evergreen, and upon it rested a beauti- ful wreath of immortelles, the gift of Mrs. D. S. Davis, a lineal descend- ant of John Hart.
Houghton's daughter Alice, married Conant Cone, and became the mother of Spencer Houghton Cone, born in Somerset county, who was in turn, teacher, actor, soldier in the war of 1812, editor, and finally be- came a distinguished Baptist minister in America in his time.
Here in Hopewell lived that distinguished benefactress, Elizabeth Hobbs, who gave £350 ($1,750) for the education of pious young men for the ministry. This was supposed at the time to be the largest legacy left by anyone for this purpose in the Baptist denomination. Isaac Eaton and John Hart, signers of the Declaration of Independence, were her executors, and they aided, out of this fund, Charles Thompson, who graduated in a class of Rhode Island College.
These are memorials of this couple in the grave yard at Hopewell:
In memory of John Hobbs, who departed this life June 6, in 1761, in the 85th year of his age. He was a great Historian and Mathema- tician, and a pious, meek, humble, and exemplary Christian.
In memory of Elizabeth Hobbs, widow of John Hobbs, who died March 26, 1767, aged upwards of 80 years. She left a handsome legacy towards the education of pious young men for the ministry of the Bap- tist denomination.
Burgess Allison, founder of Bordentown school, was a beneficiary of this fund. He graduated from Brown University and opened school at Bordentown in 1778. He was a Baptist pastor at Jacobstown church for twenty-five years.
From Hopewell graduated many of the foremost ministers of the Baptist denomination. From Bordentown school also, came some of our eminent pastors. These schools were also thronged by profes- sional men as well as prospective clergymen. They included various courses of study. Mr. Edwards gives the names of graduates, eminent in position under the government, in law, in medicine, and merchan- dise. Years passed ere Reverend Benjamin Cole settled at Hopewell in October, 1774, while pastor the third great revival occurred and one hundred and five converts were baptized. Mr. Cole resigned in the spring of 1779.
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